Even though we won, did anyone else think that the home plate ump really really sucked today more than any other day? Liriano would've had at least two more strike outs if it weren't for his crappy calls. And then the Indian's pitching staff caught a break with their balls being called for strikes.

El Satanico Dr. Neau!

A quick announcement -- added to Ysolla's Little Nicholai Punto, and Katharriet's Ford, the newest kitten-named-for-a-Twin is Don Luis, for the noble Luis Castillo.

He will be practicing turning double plays within the week.

I don't want to take someone else's props, I didn't do that picture.

(unless it was another Eric, which would be embarrassing)

Dear Mr. Eric,

Crap. Sorry.

Sincerely,
Batgirl

Oh, no problem at all. I just would have felt bad with credit not being given where it is due. I think it's a hilarious 'shop.

Joe, I was listening to the game on XM, featuring the Cleveland announcers (who are quite good. So are those in Texas, by the by. Not *all* radio guys are as inane as Gordo). They were commenting that they thought the whole SERIES was particularly brutal for strike calls. At one point, one of them commented "both the hitters and the pitchers are ticked off - and that takes some doing."

Still, 10 strikeouts for the Kid was a nice pick-me-up after last night. With all apologies to Inigo Montoya*, it was almost as if the Kid were saying: "Hello. My name is Francisco Liriano. You embarassed my teammates. Prepare to sit."

And the bullpen seemed to pick up the rallying cry.

(*For those without young daughters hooked on a particular movie, click my screenname, below, and follow the link...)

i put that photo together =)
i was hoping to find something more resembling a poster or box-cover for dr. no, but nothing good turned up.

While the Good Doctor was the clear choice for BOD, props to 'Cisco and the bullpen for tying a team record of 17 K's in a game!

tgd ... no need I read the book years before the movie ever came out. Really. The book is way better. It's by William Goldman. Check it out. And no that is not just the Librarian in me talking.

---

Woo hoo! Road series win against the Central. We need those.

Jamar, kudos for even *knowing* the book. I haven't read it, but my wife (a novelist and book reviewer) has, and she agrees wholeheartedly that it's better - and she loved the movie.

Oh I loved the movie too. The book is just better.

Just sayin'

And I agree...I can so see him saying that.

i love them both.
though the book had a tendancy to deepen my belief that buttercup was, in fact, an idiot.
and wesley deserved better.
but apparently she was so beautiful, it didn't matter, cause i guess looks are everything.
but if you have good looks AND an amazing ability to strike out everyone and their cat
...well,.........gimme a call.....
but, more importantly, keep on winning, Sr. Liriano.

Good 'shop.

Back to the theme of calling plate ....

These umpires were brutal this weekend.

I can't say much about Saturday or Sunday, though - Friday was so brutal I found myself looking away as every pitch got to the plate for fear that my head would explode.

Oh, and if Gardy had gotten ejected three times for arguing balls & strikes, no one - not even A.G. - would've had grounds to criticize him for it.

Sit Bitches, Sit !!
May the festivities continue...

Mauer leads the AL in IBB with 12.

Is there just going to be NO entry for Saturday night's, what shall I call it(?), craptastically sucky offense?? And the pitching sucked as well.

sunday, much better. ON to Chicago--taking 2 out of 3 at least would be b-ea-ut-i-ful.

I understand that Baker will rest and NOT pitch Friday's game (July 28). Franchise, instead, will have at it. true?

GO TWINS,

kal

You heard right kal, they said that on the radio after the game- and the way that Baker pitched last night, that is just fine by me. When Clevland rocks you that bad, I don't want to see what Detroit could do.

The Cisco Kid sat bitches down; just like he was supposed to, the offense scored enough to get him and us the win; just like they were 'sposed to, and the Nathanest of Joes got the win; just like he was supposed to. This is so beautiful *tear*.

Question: could someone enlighten me as to why Liriano was taken out so early in the game?

Correction: "...the Nathanest of Joes got the SAVE"
*blushes*

His pitch count was high, probably because he struck out so many bitches in 5 innings.

Ok, I swear this is my last post for at least another few minutes... but today my family and I went to this environmental place and I saw a chinchilla- I had to laugh to myself.
I wonder if it's related to Rondell's?

Well, there aren't usually recaps from Saturday games anyway.

Liriano had thrown 95 pitches through five innings, which is why Gardy had to pull him.

Even though Baker gave up all those runs, to be fair, Cleveland has great offense. The reason they aren't in the playoff race is because of poor pitching so Baker might have done better against the Tigers. Of course I'd rather go with the Kid. And I believe that Liriano and Santana will be pitching in that series... at home? oh it's over.

~~Even though Baker gave up all those runs, to be fair~~

Gotta score at least one run to win a ball game. Our offense didn't exactly show up for Saturday's game. Baker could have pitched his butt off the rest of the way after giving up the early HR and it still would have been an L.

9 x 0 is always still 0.

"Gotta score at least one run to win a ball game" was the tagline for last year's season.

You could also say that giving up 6 runs is not giving your team much chance to win most games. It is not a quality start.

FYI, a Twin is leading the league in ERA, Ks, WINS (!), and AVG. It's so nice to see their lovely faces when I open mlb.com.

Give up 6-4-2 or just 1 ... a shut-out is still NEVER a win. Not to defend the pitching performance...just sayin'...can't score...can't win.

---

Hee Jeb. My DD's fastpitch team got to the state finals one year while setting a state record as the lowest scoring team in their class, evah! Had one kick ass pitcher tho' and you know in fastpitch that and a bit of D and a bit of small ball are all you need. They won more than their share of extra-inning international tie breakers. 1-0 of course. Walked around w/a stomach all season.

D'oh....stomach-ACHE.

donna,
Just think, if the airline didn't lose Liriano's luggage, and he didn't just get back from traveling for 80 hours, and he pitched agaisnt the indians for the first time the way he did last night, he would be the league's first 13 game winner. And he had a late start.

Dr. Morneau has turned into the power hitter we've been waiting for all these years. How good is he right now? Let's look at the AL leader boards:

BA - 15th (.308), tied with Travis Hafner.
HR - 8th (25), tied with Jermaine Dye.
RBI - 4th (80), just one behind Travis Hafner and Jim Thome.

Elite, eh?

My boyfriend rules.

:swoon:

Is anybody doing a chatroom during games these days?